Balsamic Chicken Thighs With Burst Tomatoes

Updated Oct. 3, 2024

Balsamic Chicken Thighs With Burst Tomatoes
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
40 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Rating
5(2,031)
Comments
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It’s very likely you have everything on hand to make this easy chicken skillet for dinner tonight. Crispy chicken thighs are sautéed in a sweet and savory balsamic glaze made with chicken stock, mustard and garlic. Sweet cherry tomatoes surround the chicken as it cooks, bursting into the balsamic, soaking up all the flavor as their juices mingle, creating a delicious sauce that would be perfect sopped up by some crusty bread or served over pasta  or polenta.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • ¼cup balsamic vinegar
  • ¼cup chicken stock
  • 1tablespoon Dijon or deli mustard
  • 6garlic cloves, grated
  • Crushed red pepper
  • 2pounds bone- in, skin -on chicken thighs (4 to 6 thighs)
  • Salt
  • 1tablespoon olive oil
  • 1pound cherry or grape tomatoes
  • Fresh basil, for serving
  • Cooked rice, pasta or polenta, or crusty bread, for serving
Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, chicken stock, mustard, garlic and a pinch of red pepper. Set aside.

  2. Step 2

    Pat chicken thighs with a paper towel until the skin is dry, then salt generously all over. Set a medium to large oven-proof skillet or pan over medium heat and add olive oil. When oil is hot, add chicken thighs skin-down and cook, untouched, for 9 minutes. When the skins release from the pan, flip the thighs over and cook for 5 minutes more. Remove thighs from pan and set aside.

  3. Step 3

    Add the balsamic mixture to the pan and bring to a simmer, stirring and scraping away the bits on the bottom as you go, 2 to 3 minutes. Meanwhile, set your oven to broil.

  4. Step 4

    Add tomatoes and chicken thighs, skin-side up, to the pan. Spoon the balsamic juices over the tomatoes and the chicken skin, cover the pan and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 3 minutes, spoon more balsamic juices over the chicken thighs, then cover the pan and simmer for 3 more minutes.

  5. Step 5

    Remove the cover, spoon more balsamic juices over the chicken thighs, and then place the uncovered pan into the oven to broil until the chicken skin is browned and crispy, 2 to 4 minutes.

  6. Step 6

    Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve immediately over rice, pasta or polenta, or with a few chunks of crusty bread.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
2,031 user ratings
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Comments

I had a big day today but wavered between a pasta or a chicken recipe. I came across this one. Can't get simpler than this. I always follow a recipe the way it's offered to see what the writer wanted me/us to get. This time I didn't use the broiler but did it all on the stove top. The Balsamic sauce was pure heaven! OMG! We dipped sourdough batard in it and had browned green beans on the side. I will use this Balsamic sauce for other dishes. Seriously. 5 stars!

Made this for my lady for dinner. She deemed the dish, "delicious and tasty like my husband." So ya know, the night worked out. Will make again many times. (Also fyi, pairs well with wine.)

I made this today. Delish! I added broccoli for some green and served over baked potato. I used skinless, boneless thighs so didn't need to broil. I allowed the sauce to thicken a bit and this was just great and super easy. While no ones looking I'm gonna sneak back in and grab some more.

This was delicious!! I have a garlic insensitivity, so substituted with grated ginger. And I doubled the sauce, as suggested by many. This will be a make-again and again in my house!

This was delicious! Followed the recipe exactly except that I used a garlic Dijon mustard and skipped the grated garlic. Served with polenta and extra roasted veg. The only change I’d make next time is to double the tomatoes (and maybe the sauce too!)

A little embarrassed that it took this long for me to realize how much joy a last-minute broil can bring to a chicken thigh dish. Definitely encourage making this meal during a weekday. It's simple, flavorful, and great next day, too.

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